TORONTO — Danny Koevermans is going to be smart about it.
As much as the Toronto FC striker wants to play against the San Jose Earthquakes at BMO Field on Saturday (7 pm ET, watch LIVE online), he wants to make sure he is not going to risk further injury that could end his season.
What started as a left ankle injury picked up in last week’s win over Tauro FC in a CONCACAF Champions League Group C match in Panama City turned out to be more.
“It’s strange to explain,” he said after training on Friday morning. “Last week I twisted my ankle in Panama, so I went out. It was like a small ankle injury. The day after when I woke up, the whole leg was so sore, hamstring, Achilles.
“So that was I think just a warning of the body that this has been too much,” he added. “I had no preseason and I just got in the league out of nothing, and it’s so tough and so heavy and the players are so fit. Last week I struggled a little bit, and the last couple of days it just started getting better and better.”
He trained alone on Thursday when Toronto lost 1-0 to FC Dallas in a morning replay of the CCL Group C that match that has been abandoned because of severe weather the night before. On Friday, he trained with a partial squad while most of the regulars were rested.
Koevermans, who missed last Sunday’s loss in Chicago, has scored three goals in five MLS matches since he was signed as a Designated Player along with midfielder Torsten Frings on June 29. They played their first games for TFC on July 20.
The club officially listed Koevermans on Friday's injury report as questionable with hamstring tightness. He said he will see how he feels Saturday before a decision is made about playing.
“You have to be 100 percent fit in this league,” he said. “Otherwise you play a bad game or you get injured and that’s something you don’t want. And if you get injured now like, really bad, maybe you tear a muscle or something, then you’re six weeks out and you miss the rest of the season. And that’s something I really don’t want.”
Avila, Frei injury updates
Midfielder Eric Avila, who injured his hamstring in the victory over Real Salt Lake on Aug. 13 and missed the game in Chicago last weekend, said he is ready to play Saturday.
Meanwhile, goalkeeper Stefan Frei, who has had a bruised knee and has not played since the 3-3 tie with D.C. United on Aug. 6, also said he is ready to play.
